Child care subsidies

Program basics

Provide financial assistance to working parents or, in some cases, parents attending school, to cover the costs of certified in-home or center-based child care, which is often higher quality than non-family home-based care

Low- and moderate-income adults and families

Variable

1996-Present

Increased employment and earnings for low-income families
Increased enrollment in center-based care for children from low-income households

Before any program development, review federal and state statutes and subsidy funding formulas, especially the Child Care and Development Block Grant; they will likely vary dramatically across jurisdictions.
Develop clear, simple eligibility criteria – especially around income – and share explanatory materials (ideally written in multiple languages and/or delivered verbally) with families during any recruitment activity or engagement with the program.
Create a strong outreach plan to promote the subsidies, such as by developing a presence at child care providers (like Headstart) and human resource administration offices.
Streamline the enrollment to the greatest degree possible, including co-locating family services and human resources administration offices, or housing a family services case worker within the human resources office.
Provide families with detailed information on subsidy-eligible child care providers and associated costs.
Embed flexibility into eligible child care options, giving families a greater opportunity to afford their preferred caregiver, including licensed child care centers and private providers. Consider trade-offs for subsidizing licenses providers based on workforce.
Reevaluate participant eligibility only on an annual basis, allowing families to plan for the longer term.